, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nosed (n<omac/zd); p. pr. & vb. n. Nosing.] 1.
To smell; to scent; hence, to track, or trace out.
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2.
To touch with the nose; to push the nose into or against; hence, to interfere with; to treat insolently.
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-Lambs . . . nosing the mother's udder. Tennyson.
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-A sort of national convention, dubious in its nature . . . nosed Parliament in the very seat of its authority. Burke.
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3.
To utter in a nasal manner; to pronounce with a nasal twang; as, to nose a prayer. [R.] Cowley.
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4.
To confront; be closely face to face or opposite to; meet.
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5.
To furnish with a nose; as, to nose a stair tread.
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6.
To examine with the nose or sense of smell.
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7.
To make by advancing the nose or front end; as, the train nosed its way into the station;
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8. (Racing Slang)
to beat by (the length of) a nose. Hence,
to defeat in a contest by a small margin; also used in the form nose out.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]